Michael Clark of ‘A Wilderness Voice’ blog (*) and I were sharing our thoughts on God’s mercy and this is what we wrote together.

“When you think yours is the only true path you forever chain yourself to judging others and narrow the vision of God. The road to righteousness and arrogance is a parallel road that can intersect each other several times throughout a person’s life. It’s often hard to recognize one road from another. What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity. The road to arrogance is paved with the love of self.” ― Shannon L. Alder

What do you think of this quote?

Lately we have begun to wonder how many Christians, whether authors, speakers or bloggers, have realized that Jesus never condemned anyone because of their sins (cf. Jn 3:17). Instead He forgave sin and healed from sickness. The only times when Jesus exposed sin was when He saw the sin of self-righteousness, especially in the hearts of the Pharisees and scribes.
But Jesus did say many times to those He reached out to, “Your sins are forgiven you.” Not, “Your sins are forgiven you under these conditions…” He would say that when people came asking for healing! We read,

When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. (Lk 5:22-25 ESV)

Hearts were given us not for us to reason and judge with but to love. It was the heart of Jesus that made Him heal in spite of sin in the afflicted one. So He dealt with the sin that was in the way between them and God by forgiving and then He healed them, often by dispatching the devils that bound the afflicted.
There are so many Christians out there who know their Bible perfectly. But do they really know the heart of God before they open their mouth or press the keys on their keyboard in order to tell the truth… in love? Here’s another, hopefully inspiring quote.

“Live in the wisdom of accepted tenderness. Tenderness awakens within the security of knowing we are thoroughly and sincerely liked by someone… Scripture suggests that the essence of the divine nature is compassion and that the heart of God is defined by tenderness.” ― Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

Remember, the New Covenant tells us that God is love and even in the Old Covenant He calls Himself the God of mercy. So, before we judge others, Christian or not, let us make sure that God’s love dwells in our hearts and that we truly love others as we love God and ourselves,

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Js 2:13 ESV)

Ahh, very sweet, I love that quote from Shannon L. Alder. To love Christ is to love His people too, not always such an easy task.

A couple of things come to mind, the woman with the perfume, in Luke 7:47 we read, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” To recognize the extent of our own sin and to avail ourselves of mercy, really does lead us to be more empathetic and compassionate towards others and less self righteous. To have known love,makes us more loving.

Also, many people know John 3:16, but 3:17 is really good, too. It says, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

God is all about mercy, redemption, healing, restoration, relationship, connection. You find evidence of this all over creation but also in scripture. Peter denies Christ three times, but Christ also asks in 3 times in perfect measure, Peter do you love me? Eve is tempted in the garden and gives birth to sin so to speak, but Mary is chosen to give birth to redemption. Some say Adam fell down on the job in the garden, but later Christ comes as a man to bring salvation. There are dozens of these interesting little examples of how God is all about restoration.

“Also, many people know John 3:16, but 3:17 is really good, too. It says, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.””

Wow, same Spirit, dear sister. We were going to include that very scripture from John 3:17 and didn’t. God had us leave it out so you could post it! Really! This is true body ministry and unity, dear sister!

Yes! So many good examples in between the New and the Old Testaments like you shared. Thanks so much for sharing these. Like Susanne said, you have the start of a great blog in your comment. Go for it!

Yes, Bernie, there is much to be learned from Jesus when it comes to mercy triumphing over judgement…

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go and learn what that means, ‘I will have mercy, and not sacrifice’: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:11-13 KJ2000)

Excellent! Excellent! Thank you both! That Shannon Alder quote at the beginning was incredible! And of course I love anything Brennan Manning has penned. I was in Roman 8 in The Message earlier this week and read this: “God told Moses, ‘I’m in charge of meexg. I’m in charge if compassion.’ Compassion doesnt originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat (oops), but in God’s mercy.” And it struck me so deeply. This mercy which we have been given in full measure, is not something I can with straight face or genuine faith, keep from another. God help me.

I also read in my “The Words” book: “All if you whom the Father has given me will come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will never refuse.” Unsure of the reference, but look at that last sentence. That is the beautiful scandal of which we’re all invited AND welcome. Hallelujah!

As you know I read and liked your latest comments on your blog and as I read that you had written about a “bleeding heart” AND had seen the pic Michael had taken on the very same day, I felt that God wanted me to write a blog post. However, I did not really knew HOW to do it although the issue was clear to me. I told Michael about it and here you are. We put our stuff together and that is our first common blog post. Maybe, not the last since it was completely God’s doing, God who freed us both recently from the desire to write, both own blog posts and comments. We were truly wondering what God had in mind until we published that blog post together. 🙂

I have nothing to offer apart from what God gives me. I lost interest in writing, which I had been loving for more than the past 42 years, already a few weeks ago. As I wrote about it in a response to Kenneth Dawson on here, he reacted similarly as you did. Alas (or thank God?) I can no longer do anything apart from Him and I do not know what lies ahead. I think I would not go so far to delete my blogs, but as for writing, I truly need to wait on the Lord. I have never felt that “unspiritual” as I do right now and I sense it must be part of that dying-to-self-process that I can say, “Lord, Thy will be done in heaven and on earth – and in my life.”

It has not changed yet, dear Becky. I recall that I told you in the past I read the last (whole) book back in 2008, which sounds crazy for a former bookworm like me. It was also the last time I would be on vacation in 2008, and so on and so on…
If you or someone else wants to read more about what I “lost” since I have come to know God, here the link to that post where I described it https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/putting-on-the-new-self-but-how/.

Susanne, thank you so much for the links. I enjoyed very much reading through the comments. To clarify, my “hmmm” was based on my perception that being freed from the desire to write was a good thing (to be freed) and that writing (because you were freed from it) was a bad thing. After reading through the comments, however, I believe I was incorrect.

I have battled through a lot of questions and not knowing, etc. Writing is not something I’ve always done. It is new with my prodigal surrender and salvation (again, if you will) back in 2007. I have had a very difficult time trusting it. That being said, I will share an experience that took place just today.

I had been praying. A friend is going through an incredibly tumultuous marital season and told me recently she does not seek the voice of God before speaking to her husband. I know this, for I never did. In my prayer I was asking for God to reveal himself in the midst of the tumult as I know he is able. But also I was saddened because this friend has 52 years of church. (No longer though. Much religion is being pulled, yanked, from her.) Anyway, it is in this when I hear in my spirit: “I AM the only One who can bring life.” Not me. Not my words, per se. As you wrote, without God I have nothing to give. Not our religious duties and/or activities. Only God, our Father in heaven, can bring life. And withing minutes I am reading in The Message translation, in Romans 11: “Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; everything ends up in him.” And there in my reading room, with the fan on my legs to cool me, and the windows open with the warm sun shining on the leaves of the lush tree outside, birds chattering, etc. I knew Life in a whole different way, as well as myself and the part I play.

Thank you very much for sharing today’s testimony, or rather, a part of your spiritual diary from today with me. YES!!!! Only HE can bring life and save ppl out of their painful situations and circumstances. Our words, written or spoken affect no one and have no positive spiritual effect unless God’s Spirit wind breathed them unto us.

I so love the description of you being in your reading room…..it is as if I could see it before my eyes right now! 😉

Becky, that was a great quote from the Message Bible, “God told Moses, “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16 MSG)

I also found that second passage you quoted similarly translated in the Good News Bible, “Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me, because I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:37-38 GNB)

YES! What a beautiful scandal this is. To those who are heavily invested in their own moral sweat, it truly is a scandal that God is not a God of condemnation, but the God of mercy just as Hosea who God commanded to marry and have children by a prostitute (talk about a scandal!) found out…

And then I’ll marry you for good–forever! I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness. Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You’ll know me, GOD, for who I really am. “On the very same day, I’ll answer”–this is GOD’s Message– “I’ll answer the sky, sky will answer earth, Earth will answer grain and wine and olive oil, and they’ll all answer Jezreel. I’ll plant her in the good earth. I’ll have mercy on No-Mercy. I’ll say to Nobody, ‘You’re my dear Somebody,’ and he’ll say ‘You’re my God!'” (Hosea 2:19-23 MSG)

I am sure that we all are looking forward to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb!
Rev.19 vs 7-8. ‘HALLELUJAH, FOR THE LORD OUR GOD REIGNS! ‘LET US
REJOICE AND BE GLAD AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM, FOR THE MARRIAGE
OF THE LAMB HAS COME AND THE BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF REAdy.
AND IT WAS GIVEN TO CLOTHE HERSELF IN WHITE LENIN. Eph. 5 vs26-27:
THAT HE (CHRIST) HE MIGHT SANCTIFY HER (THE CHURCH) CLEANSED HER BY THE
WASHING OF THE WATER OF THE WORD (BIBLE STIUDY) .. THAT HE MIGHT
PRESENT TO HIMSELF HAVING NO SPOT OR WRINCLE..BUT SHE (CHURCH)
SHOULD BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS.”. (This what we will be: when we put on:
WHITE LINEN, as stated above.

Oh, Michael! You are going to thrill at what I’m about to share. But, first, thank you for responding, and for the reference and additional Scripture. My Message Bible was right next to me so I turned to Hosea. Next to verses 14-15 on this very day back in 2009, I wrote this: “Thank You, Father! For starting all over again with me! Not because of what did or who I am, but because of who You are, and what Your Son did! Thank You!”

“And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I’ll court her. I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn her Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.”

That’s what He did. I was fresh out of my own personal Egypt, marks from the slavery chains still in my skin. And He courted me in the wilderness. My Heartbreak Valley most assuredly was turned, by the very grace of God, into Acres of Hope. Not that everything is perfect, as I’m certain I don’t have to qualify with you. But my spirit was forever changed. The depth by which are still being revealed to me.

Oh Becky! What a wonderful personal revelation God has given you. Our God does not try to fix up what Satan destroyed in us, but rather He make all things NEW and the old things are passed away. He has no use for our old beat up wineskins, but rather He put us into a whole new container, Jesus Christ!

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ [litterally, we have been immersed into Christ!] have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
(Galatians 3:27-28 ESV)

Therefore, if anyone is IN Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Thank you so very much for your great comments on here during the time I should have slept (yup, only 4 hours again 😛 … perhaps I was a bit excited about how our first common blog post would be welcomed. 😉

Dear Susanne, I have to admit that I was a bit excited about our “joint venture” in writing as well, writing a blog post together. Actually, we have both commented on one another’s blogs for about a year and a half and in a sense we have been writing together as each of us have been inspired by the others writings so often in what we have posted. It is so wonderful to be in the unity of the Spirit and in one mind and heart just as it was with the early church. It is also interesting how Satan and his forces break out all their big guns to try and stop this kind of unity in the Spirit. Yet, this was Jesus final prayer for we who would believe in Him and HERE is where the power of the gospel is found…

“That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”
(John 17:21-22 KJ2000)

As for those of you that read this, please pray for us that our Father’s will be done in our lives and in our unity as well as that of the whole body of Christ. May Jesus’ love continue to grow in us until the fullness of His kingdom becomes a reality. Amen.

Yes, our God given unity that came out of the blue was a great gift from God, not only for you and me, but perhaps for others too since “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Cor 12:7 ESV)
We have gone through so many struggles and attacks from Satan during that time, I cannot even count them any longer, can you? But despite his flamings darts that are truly painful, God saw us through and lifted us ever higher after another valley of dying to self.

Yes, dear readers, your prayers for us are highly appreciated since Satan does NOT sleep…

Very good Sue…the other day I got a phrase from a blog post that I think nails it down–FELT THOUGHT….God gives us new minds to express His lovingly nature and He uses us humans to do it again just like He did it in Christ

Thank you for the post. You ask what we thought of Shannon L. Alder’s statement. I’m not sure that I understand the parallel between righteous and arrogance.

Someone said, “Blessed are they who are caught”. That is a type of confession. I believe confession opens the door for love to cover a multitude of sin. Proverbs 10:12 and I Peter 4: 8 says, ” Love covers a multitude of sins”. Jesus was God (Love) manifest in the flesh. Jesus was love, so He could deal with sin. Praise God, He can deal with all my sin, and the sin of the woman caught in adultery. My understanding is that before Jesus came – she would have been stoned to death.

Pat, thanks for your comment. What Shannon was pointing out was that it is easy to become proud of our righteousness as soon as we think we are doing something “right.” It is then that we slip over into a self-righteous arrogance and start looking down our noses at those who “have not advanced” to “our level.” Like Shannon said, “What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity. The road to arrogance is paved with the love of self.” We tend to “self-exalt” as soon as we think we are getting somewhere in our spiritual walks. But true love of God is always interlaced with Christ’s humility. Agape love puts others first and even prefers them over ourselves and does not vaunt itself up over others, but takes the lowest place in loving service to even its enemies. If we are not in this love when we seek to correct another, it will be harsh and judgmental, but when God corrects, He strips Himself and puts on a servant’s towel and washes feet.

Truly, I am glad Michael answered you the way he did and I believe it was perfect how he explained it.

I always loved that Scripture which speaks of LOVE being able to cover a multitude of sins. The more I walk with the Lord, the more I see my weaknesses, my helplessness without Him, and countless imperfections. Nonetheless, I now am inclined to believe that it’s ALL about growing in His love and becoming able to no longer look at any sin in others.

Great piece, Susanna. Jesus never condemned an individual. Instead, Jesus addressed the sin directly in the spirit of love and forgiveness.

However, He was not bashful about harshly criticizing groups of people and the attitudes and practices of the groups. “Woe to you Pharisees.” etc. He also severely criticized the money changers in the temple during Passover. Recall that He expressed His anger by overturning tables. Although He used strong language to criticize groups even that was an expression of His love, because the targeted groups were having a powerful negative effect on many others. The groups included people in highly visible positions and therefore had a greater sphere of influence than most people. What do you think?

Thanks, Lloyd. I wonder whether Jesus’ “behavior” in dealing with sinful people, i.e. all but Him, had to do with their true heart condition. If He saw that someone had already repented in his heart, there was no need to address sin. But when someone wanted to go on wearing a “holy mask”, Jesus tore it down. I guess that was one of the reasons why they wanted to kill Him.

Interesting thoughts, Susanne. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the TRUTH and…” The “holy mask” to which you refer covers a lie and to some extent represents the greatest of liars, Satan. When Jesus criticized the mask, not the wearer, it was a euphemistic way of saying, “Get thee behind me Satan.” What do you think?

Lloyd, I don’t think that “groups” as a whole were subject to Christ’s criticism. but rather what those groups represented in God’s kingdom and their attitudes as you said. Yes, He did say, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Why? Because they would not enter into God’s kingdom and tried to interfere with those who WERE SEEKING to enter in!

Jesus never said, “Woe unto you Roman Soldiers because you compel men to carry your packs for you against their will.” “He never said, “Woe unto you tax collectors because you exact more from people than is your legal right!” or “Woe to you harlots!” or “Woe to you publicans!” But He did say to the chief priests and the elders of the Jews…

“… Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.” (Matthew 21:31-32 KJ2000)

It is not what group we belong to that God looks at (for instance Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Protestant, Catholic, etc.), but He looks at the heart of the individuals in all groups as Susanne said in her comment. I agree that those who have been given much will be required much of God and teachers will receive a greater condemnation if they are misrepresenting God in the church. Jesus in Matthew ch. 23 had much to say about all this.

Yes, LOVE is so fulfilling and deep. SO much more than having self-righteous heart. It is protective and fierce!

Sometimes it can be very painful when we open up our hearts to others and not receiving same amount of love in return. I struggle with this but I always ask God for His strength to keep on loving others! I hope to inspire others to be more loving =)

Indeed, I have been in the place of complete helplessness before God for many weeks now, feeling that particular pain very often and I do know that I can never change that spiritual condition I am in.
If God does not pour some love into my heart (Rom 5:5) and heals the wounds received, then that pain and hurt will stay there – forever. Not a pleasant situation to see how utterly dependant I am on His intervention in all things…
Actually, I have given up on the thought of being able to inspire anyone to anything which is pleasing in His sight. Feeeeew! Does that sound like some good news to our ears? 🙄 At first sight, not really, but I hope to get through that valley of death (i.e., dying to self) anytime in the future, though.

“Actually, I have given up on the thought of being able to inspire anyone to anything which is pleasing in His sight. Feeeeew! Does that sound like some good news to our ears? 🙄 At first sight, not really, but I hope to get through that valley of death (i.e., dying to self) anytime in the future, though.”

As I read this the Spirit prompted me to share this verse from the Psalms with you…

“For his anger endures but for a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5 KJ2000)

I can understand that it’s easy to become discouraged although I try to remind myself that God continues to love the mankind even though majority of them has turned their back on Him. Imagine how He must feel! I think the book of Hosea is a good example of His love. Only He can give us the divine strength to keep on loving one another!

A parable of seed sower came to my mind, we should keep on sowing and sowing even though not all seeds will become fruitful. Also, we may not see the result right away, but it’ll be worth it when we finally see the fruit fully grown and thriving! I hope this makes sense because I was writing metaphorically.
I pray to God to fill you with even more of His LOVE and PEACE!

Thanks, Joseph. Yes, love can both feel good as He pours His love through us and it can also hurt when it is rejected or we inadvertently hurt the ones we love. Paul wrote that when one member of Christ’s body suffers, the whole body suffers and when one member is joyful the whole body is blessed. God so loved the world that He sent His Son to suffer and die for it. Love is not always a good feeling or the easy way, but it does put the needs and sufferings of others ahead of its own well being and seeks to relieve and heal them. Love embraces pain. I think that the love of Jesus drew people to Him and I know that when we are a conduit of His love it will still draw others to Him as well.
Bless you, my brother. Thanks for your comment,
Michael

I find it that when we become more loving toward others, we become more sensitive to their suffering and pains to the point where it begins to affect us. When we help others, we are also helping ourselves and fostering the spirit of unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Joseph, you bring up some interesting points. It is obvious that you have walked out this life of loving IN Christ and have come to know “the fellowship of His sufferings” first hand. Some of us are more sensative to the pains of those around us and know what it means to be an empath… taking their pains into ourselves. Our only relief in being this way because of Christ’s love, is to learn to lay these burdens at His feet.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief… Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:3-4 KJ2000)

Thanks for sharing that passage out of Colossians. It says it perfectly what we are called to do and be IN Christ!

very good – well written – I would like to humbly add that even before Jesus would heal a person – the bible tells us that he hugged them first – he loved them – I think many people miss this very important point. God bless you today! 🙂

Actually, I am still mulling over what you wrote about Jesus hugging people He met. I am rather sure He really did, but where can we find it written in the Bible? What I remember, instead, are a few Jesus films on TV where one could see Him hugging His desciples and ppl who came to Him.

sorry Suzanne, but I missed your reply – I am just referring to a scripture that began “he hugged the person” but was not inferring that the bible spoke of his hugging directly….I will try to find the scripture I refer to – God bless! 🙂

Wonderful post, Susanne and Michael! And comments! So many beautiful things jumped out to me. This one in particular in your article: “Hearts were given us not for us to reason and judge with but to love” made me think of something Jay Ferris once said (this time of year is the 2 year mark of his passing into more of Christ). He said that “speaking the truth in love” essentially means that we FIRST are “in love” with someone – then we have a platform to speak truth to them “in love.”

Having hopeful, positive, and restorative feelings for someone (instead of frustrated, negative, and critical feelings) has been a gauge for me lately as to whether I have any place or spiritual unction from the Lord to open my mouth. If I disregard this, I am convicted that I am judging, not loving.

What jumped out to you was one of Michael’s great insights. ⭐
And yess! Jay Ferris was completely right: without being in love with one another, we cannot speak the truth IN LOVE. Jay must have been a wonderful spiritual man, I am sure. And I could understand if you you still missed him.

Love you too! ❤
With God’s help…we’re keeping up the good work of loving!

Thanks for the great comment, Pam! It is always a blessing to hear from you. I hope everything is going well for you two up in N.Y. state. I have not got a blog notice from you lately, I guess I need to go there and check it out. 🙂

You quoted me when I wrote, “Hearts were given us not for us to reason and judge with but to love.” That came to me when I read Jesus’ words to some scribes after He told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven him,

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned among themselves, he said unto them, “Why reason you these things in your hearts?”
(Mark 2:6-8 KJ2000)

His words jumped off the page at me! All to often we left-brained religious people do not love with our hearts, but rather turn to “reason” to decide what we are to do in each situation. Jesus was motivated always by the love and mercy of the Father! It was “reason” that Satan appealed to in Eve that if she would eat of that forbidden tree she would be on the fast track to becoming like God and that was what got us all in this mess we see today!

The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too. (Genesis 3:6 NLT)

God has given us new hearts IN Christ and filled them with His love. Agape love should be the most powerful thing that operates in us, telling us how to respond in each situation. Paul wrote that knowledge will pass away, but the greatest of all these gifts from God is love. It was their knowledge of the law that the scribes used to judge Jesus for forgiving that man’s sins. If they had been in their hearts instead of relying on their reason, they would have rejoice that this man’s sins had just been forgiven and rejoice when he was made whole and walked again, but they had NO love in them, only judgment based on human reason. The law is subject to the knowledge of good and evil, not the Tree of Life and Jesus came that we might have LIFE not death.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:56-57 KJ2000)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
(Romans 8:1-2 RSVA)

And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
(John 1:16-17 KJ2000)

How wonderful that the two of you should collaborate, Michael and Susanne! The combination is — not surprisingly — a gift to the rest of us. Your spirits are so in tune, in any case. Reading this blog, including the many thoughtful comments, is always like attending a feast for me. I come away nourished and richer.

This particular post bears on both the “prosperity” gospel and the transgender issue.

Listen to a sermon by any proponent of that so called gospel, and you will quickly recognize that the message targets outcasts. Those who have been rejected, those who carry scars cannot help but be drawn by a promise of love and acceptance at last. And all for a price.

The true message of unconditional love, the good news of Salvation through Christ, is miscast as a financial transaction. Blessings can be purchased from the Lord for a simple donation to the ministry — a ministry whose primary purpose is to furnish the minister with a lavish lifestyle. The larger the donation, the more generous God will be goes the claim. And so the flock is fleeced by the shepherd.

There will be eternal consequences for these shepherds, these wolves in sheep’s clothing. But the lost and forgotten are meanwhile denied the comfort and support the true gospel provides.

Churches preaching the traditional gospel, churches whose members should know better, have failed to reach out to this under-served population, leaving them at the mercy of false shepherds. The same applies to those struggling with sexual identity.

The adoption by Bruce Jenner of a female persona (“Caitlin”) has brought the transgender issue to the public’s attention. Almost universally, Christians have recoiled in horror. We hear comparisons with Sodom and Gomorrah. Many, however, suffer from problems involving sexual identity — transgender and otherwise. Their pain is real.

While there are no easy answers, love must be a component of the Christian response.

Mmmhhh…… THAT was sooo encouraging, dear Anna! ❤ I am glad to read that you see Michael and I writing together as a gift to you and others who read our blogs. Thanks a bunch for saying THIS!!! 🙂

As you compared reading the blog and comments with “attending a feast”, you left me speechless. Wow! 🙄

The LGBT community, esp. homosexuality and the transgender issue is something that has been on my mind lately too. You are absolute right as to your observations about the prosperity gospel and the way those who already suffered enough in this life are only courted to get hold of the “fat and the wool” of the sheep, i.e. of their money and possessions.

Dear Anna, Thank you for your gracious comment about our blog article. Yes, it is uncanny how in-tune Susanne and I are in the Spirit. We are so grateful that the kingdom of God is not limited by time and distance. It seems that we often have the same thoughts at the same time and rarely are in disagreement on anything. Once in a while we come to a loggerhead on a subject but we manage to pray and turn it over to the Lord and He brings us back into unity by showing us HIS mind in the matter. From what I read in the New Testament this should be a norm for the members of the body of Christ, not the exception. Jesus and Paul had much to say about the importance of unity in the Spirit in the body of Christ.

As for what you said about these false shepherds fleecing their flocks. The prophet Ezekiel spoke about this very abomination in chapter 34 of his prophesy. To read it is like reading a modern mega-church playbook. The poor and the socially disenfranchised need not apply and are known in these pastoral circles as “high maintenance” people. If they do persist it is not long before they are squeezed out or so insulted that they leave, but the rich are courted and cajoled to join their inner circles and are often given seats of honor and position in such places. You might be interested in an article on this subject by my friend and brother in Christ, George Davis, called “The Forgotten Demographic.” http://www.awildernessvoice.com/Demographic.html

God bless you, dear Anna, for your selfless work among the poor and the ones that modern Christendom rejects in this world, the very ones that followed Jesus everywhere He went. He is still among them with His Spirit in people like you.

Anna, I am glad you like the article by George. We wrote together extensively for 13 years and most of it, including our books, are on that same website I sent you the link to. Thank you for all your kindness to Susanne and I and so many others. God bless and keep you always,
Michael

Both of you have put to words what I myself have been trying to say for quite sometime now. Bravo!

I have come through the scorching fires of a judgmental group of people (both church family and my own family). Those people have been harsh, unforgiving, cruel and down-right heartless in the way they have spoken to me, treated me with cold- hearted rejection because I wasn’t like them. But, I can thank God for it all now, because it has taught me some very important lessons and insights that I would not have learned without that fiery trial. I see things about God and His word with new focus and with a greater understanding than before.

He is also setting me free from many things that had me bound, things that I was blind to. And with it a new fire is burning in my heart for the truth of God’s word and the things of God. By His grace I am now entering a new path with victory in my heart. My faith in Him is strong and growing, and I am encouraged by a new zest for living for God.

So sad that you had to go through rejection, even in your own family, but it appears to me that God Himself put you through it all and that His grace never left you (although we might sometimes feel forsaken by Him). I was happy to read that you indeed got a new love for the truth of God’s word and all things concerning Him. That was clearly HIS doing inside you though that dark night you had to go through during the last years.

“Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words be good for benefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that they may be a means of blessing to the hearers. And beware of grieving the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you have been sealed in preparation for the day of Redemption. Let all bitterness and all passionate feeling, all anger and loud insulting language, be unknown among you–and also every kind of malice. On the contrary learn to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you.” (Eph 4:29-32 Weymouth New Testament)

The words given to Paul, as recorded above, are at the end of the 4th Chapter of Ephesians but it seems unfortunate that a “Chapter Break” is placed here and the words given by the Spirit at the beginning of Chapter 5, are not included in the thought being conveyed; i.e., “Therefore be imitators of God, as His dear children. And live and act lovingly, as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up to death on our behalf as an offering and sacrifice to God, yielding a fragrant odor.” (Eph 5:1-2 WNT)

There are no “unwholesome words” more damaging than words of condemnation that we sometimes blurt out from a heart that is hardened by our self-righteous and arrogant behavior. Lois and I appreciate the timely words from you and Michael concerning the judgmental attitude of many in the church who have become convinced their “path” is the one true path we should be following, instead of following the Lamb whithersoever he goes.

Many years ago Lois and I were ministering, concerning the “Grace of God,” to a body of believers who were previously “beaten-up” by a well meaning, albeit, “arrogant” evangelist who constantly preached hell-fire and damnation, which brought everyone in that little assembly under tremendous condemnation. Among the youth was a young girl who had given herself to a boy she was certain she “loved deeply,” resulting in a pregnancy that she was certain she would be condemned for. Her mother, who felt she had failed miserably to raise her daughter to, “know better,” brought her to us to acknowledge her/their sins _ expecting to receive a scathing rebuke, and more condemnation, along with the possibility of the two of them being cast out of the assembly.

Contrary to what they expected, instead of having guilt heaped upon them, a compassion that welled up within, brought out words of love, tenderness and encouragement concerning God being in control, as the One who opens the womb, children being a gift from God, and bringing her child up in the fear of the Lord and providing a Godly environment, etc. etc.. Remembering Tamar and Rahab and how they were accounted as “righteous” before God, helped to calm all fears and brought peace to each of us. What a wonderful experience of His presence, Love, and compassion.

Thank you for a word that serves as a reminder of times wherein we rejoice when the Heart of God is lovingly expressed in our midst.

I love the testimony you shared with us! 🙂 It was clearly the unconditional love of God that nudged you to display His heart toward that poor girl who got pregnant out of wedlock. I do not know whether it is true, but recently I read that more women who attended legalistic churches had an abortion than women who were able to attend a liberal church.
Tamar and Rahab were wonderful examples to show us that God is not so much interested in sin, but in the heart condition we are in. The problem with legalism lies in the fact that the sinner is urged to behave like a perfect saint would do. However, the sanctification process is extremely long and for most people in churches it has not yet begun (speaking of individuals here). They are still sinners who will be saved by Jesus. So, it is not our task to judge anyone if we do not know their hearts as God does.

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
(John 3:16-17 ESV)

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